A flag is seen at the temporary marker for a mass grave in Section 60, an area largely used for those who died while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, at Arlington National Cemetery. (Getty Images)

(Newser)
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"Operation Enduring Freedom" has officially claimed its 2,000th American life, with the death of Cpl. Taylor J. Baune of Andover, Minnesota, yesterday, CNN reports. Baune died in combat, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, but no other details are available. He had just gotten married in March.

Operation Enduring Freedom is the broad name George W. Bush gave to the "war on terror." Its most visible component is the war in Afghanistan, and the lion's share of the casualties (1,884) have come there, but it also includes actions in more than a dozen other countries, including Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, Djibouti, Eritrea, Turkey, and Yemen.

sad very sad! rip to all! MAKE THE PLACE INTO OPERATION "ENDURING PARKING LOT" AND LET THEM START OVER AGAIN! GET OUT NOW! ABU ARAB WILL JUST GO ON KIILLING EACHOTHER WITH OUT "OUR" HELP!

carson

Jun 14, 2012 7:43 PM CDT

enduring freedom has not claimed 2000 us casualties...our enemies have...it is incalculable how many lives enduring freedom has saved

Just_Dave

Jun 14, 2012 4:03 PM CDT

Innocent American citizens were attacked by al Qaeda who was supported by the Taliban. 2977 people died and both towers of the World Trade Center were destroyed along with some surrounding buildings. The United States House responded three days later with a joint resolution calling for the use of military force against terrorist. The vote was 518 for, 1 against and 12 not voting. 11 years later al-Qaeda is dismantled, unfunded and ineffective. War sucks and the loss of anyones life to violence is regrettable. We cannot however allow any group or nation attack us without response and expect to remain a country. Thank you American military for protecting us.